Colorado woman hoped to join jihadists

Jul. 2, 2014
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Breaking News / Tory Hargro, USA TODAY

by Jeremy Jojola, KUSA-TV, Denve

by Jeremy Jojola, KUSA-TV, Denve

DENVER â?? A Colorado woman arrested in April as she was about to fly to Turkey planned to help terrorists after falling for an online suitor who claimed to be a jihadist, authorities say.

Shannon Maureen Conley, 19, of Arvada was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. She was arrested by FBI agents who found CDs and DVDs relating to jihad and al-Qaeda in her luggage.

A judge recently ordered the criminal complaint against Conley unsealed.

The complaint says Conley began an online relationship with a man known as "Y.M." who claimed to be a fighter in Syria. In the court documents, Conley told FBI agents she planned to fly to "Turkey and wait there until associates of her suitor contacted her."

The suitor apparently was a Tunisian man who claimed to be fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as ISIL or ISIS.

"Conley and Y.M. decided to become engaged; and, together with each other and others both known and unknown, arranged to have Conley travel to Syria and be with Y.M.," court documents said.

Law enforcement officials came into contact with Conley in late 2013, according to court documents, when she was spotted acting suspiciously near the Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada.

According to the federal criminal complaint, Conley was seen taking notes around the church, which was the site of a shooting incident in 2007.

Asked about her visits to the church, the complaint said Conley told an Arvada police detective, "I hate those people," and, "If they think I'm a terrorist, I'll give them something to think I am."

In December, Conley told FBI agents she had joined the U.S. Army Explorers program so she could be "trained in U.S. military tactics and firearms," according to the complaint. "She said she intended to use that training to go overseas to wage Jihad."

Conley remains in federal custody. If convicted, she could face 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.